Saturday, January 30, 2010

Report: Toyota 'Gs' performance division in the works

Be still our hearts. A Toyota post that doesn't involve a recall. Instead, we've got an unsurprising report about ToMoCo's plans to start a new, in-house performance division dubbed "Gs" sometime in 2010.

Earlier this month, Toyota trotted out three models wearing a new line of performance parts at the Tokyo Auto Salon under the "Toyota G Sports" moniker. While a bodykitted Prius isn't exactly our cup of Earl Grey and the tuned Mark X is about as interesting as a fire-breathing Camry, the (supposedly) turbocharged Toyota FT-86, fitted with a complete aero kit, suspension and brake mods kicked our salivary glands into overdrive.

Unlike the forthcoming Volkswagen R line, BMW's M division or Mercedes-Benz' AMG unit, the Gs line would be a joint collaboration between Modelista – which has been developing and supplying exterior components to the automaker – and TRD, which will handle engine, suspension and brake development with the help of Gazoo, the firm that helped to create the hybrid Mk. III MR2 for TAS.

G's will focus more on high-end components developed for the street and will likely sold as either a complete model (think Toyota FT-86 Gs) or available as separate components, similar to the Lexus F Sport line.

Whether these components or full models will make it Stateside remains to be seen, but when the FT-86 makes it to U.S. shores, we'd suspect Toyota – or more likely Scion – will offer similar equipment.